Chicago Bears Rumors + News + Blog + Draft 2012: Bears Mix

Matt Forte's Contract Extention is Long Overdue.

noreply@blogger.com (Clyde A. Speller) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:16:00 +0000

It seems that every Chicago Bears fan is talking about Matt Forte and how he isn't getting the contract that he well deserves from Bears management. This really doesn't surprise me, because the Bears have had a history of being tight-gripped with their money. But in this case, Ted Phillips and Jerry Angelo just needs to stop being cheap, and realize what they have here in this running back.

Forte is having the best season in his young career, and is on pace to set some major franchise and league records. The fourth-year veteran is the first player in the league to gain at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage in the first seven games of the season since 2004, and could possibly amass more yards from scrimmage in a single season than anyone in NFL history. In addition, Forte just might be only the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards recieving in the same season, joining Roger Craig and Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.

I can understand if Forte was only putting up numbers that would barely get him in the Pro Bowl, but this is much bigger than that. What Forte can do is not only go to the Pro Bowl, but become an all-pro, and NFL MVP. Now if I'm not mistaken, the last Chicago Bears player to be MVP was Walter Payton. That is some great company to be in.

The big rumor is that Angelo will let Forte play out his rookie contract, then hit him with the franchise tag for the 2012 season. Grant it, Forte will make a pretty penny, a little over 7 million for that season, but the fact that Bears management is prolonging this contract extention will only hurt their reputation with current Bears players, and other players around the league. No one will be willing to come to the Bears and give their all, only to be short-changed, and more than likely, no one will want to stay with the Bears.

And let's just say that Forte is given the franchise tag and he plays at a high level again. Angelo might come to his senses and finally give Forte the long-term contract, but given the fact that it took so long, Forte just might decide to go to a team that will show their appreciation from the start, rather than waiting for a couple of years.

If this type of business management continues to go on in the Bears' front office, Chicago will never be able to attract big-time free agents to fill curent voids such as the number one receiver position, or safety and the offensive line. Even looking into the near future finding replacements for the aging linebacking corps may be more difficult.

Forte is putting up record-setting numbers and isn't getting compensated for what he has produced. Now I will say that I truely believe that Forte will get the contract that he well deserves. The question is will he get the contract from the Bears or another team.

Clyde A. Speller

Bears Off Balance

noreply@blogger.com (Clyde A. Speller) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:40:00 +0000

Many would think that the Chicago Bears would have learned their lesson from last season of approaching the game with a balanced offensive attack. Obviously they must have a very short memory.

Last week versus the New Orleans Saints, Chicago called 52 pass plays and only 11 run plays. I could understand if they were down by a couple of touchdowns and resorted to the pass in order to get back in the game, but the Bears were only down 16-10 at halftime and trailed 16-13 during the third quarter. Yet, they still continued to pass the ball.

As a result of Chicago's one-sided offensive play calling, the Saints easily predicted that the Bears were going to pass, and constantly blitzed and sacked Jay Cutler six times. This pass-happy approach won't make matters any better for a Bears offensive line that is injury-riddled and are having problems protecting the quarterback. And to make matters even worse, they will face the Green Bay Packers in Week 3.

Let's not also forget that Matt Forte is a pretty good running back; probably the most underrated back in the league. In his first three seasons, he's had two 1,000-yard seasons on the ground. And against the Saints last week, he averaged 4.9 yards per carry (10 carries for 49 yards).

Mike Martz, I hope you're listening. The best way to lower the number of sacks is to RUN THE BALL MORE!!! Cutler can't get sacked if he's handing the ball off. More importantly, running the ball more will open up the passing game, help control the clock, and keep the ball out of the hands of Aaron Rodgers.

If no adjustments are made soon, then Jay Cutler will be the most sacked quarterback in the league for the second year in a row, and possibly knocked out for the year at some point.

Clyde A. Speller

Regular Season On Horizon.

noreply@blogger.com (Clyde A. Speller) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:54:00 +0000

With one more preseason game to be played, the Chicago Bears seem to be ready for the regular season. Although their 1-2 record might not indicate that, we have to remember that it is still just the preseason.

A lot of optimism can be taken from the three games that the Bears have played. Matt Forte has decided to play instead of holding out for a bigger contract, and is still producing on the field. In addition to Forte, newly acquired running back Marion Barber looks to be a much needed piece to the puzzle in Chicago's backfield. Despite the departure of Olin Kruetz, the offensive line has seemed to improve game by game. And the defense looks to be picking up where they left off last year when they were ranked in the top five.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of things that may cause some speculation if you're a Bears fan. So far, Chicago hasn't shown any improvement in the red zone on offense. This was very evident in Week 2 of the preseason versus the New York Giants. The Bears' offense was in the red zone five times, and only managed one score once (a touchdown by Kahlil Bell late in the game). The inconsistent kicking of Robbie Gould is another reason to worry. In the first three preseason games, Gould has missed four of his nine field goal attempts. Grant it, two of those misses were from 55 and 56 yards away, but the other two were considered chip-shots to Gould (a 33-yarder and a 29-yarder).

Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives for the Chicago Bears in the preseason. But after looking at the entire picture, a lot of experts still don't have the Bears making it to the playoffs. I understand that the NFC North may be the toughest division in the NFC this year, but the fact remains that Chicago still has a great defense that can still be ranked in the top five, and an offense that has one year under their belt of playing under Mike Martz's offensive scheme. Looking not at the record of the preseason, but looking at the steady improvement of the offensive line along with the improved mechanics of Jay Cutler, and the continued dominance of the defense, the Bears can't possibly be left out of the conversation of the playoffs. If healthy, the defense alone could possibly get them a wild card berth. And if Chicago finds a way to patch up the holes from their preseason performance, then they will definitely be in the playoff picture.

Clyde A. Speller

Bears Part with Kreutz.

noreply@blogger.com (Clyde A. Speller) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:06:00 +0000

I can't believe that the Chicago Bears let Olin Kreutz get away. The heart and soul of the entire team is now no longer in a Bears uniform. Reportedly, the 13-year veteran wanted a one-year deal for $4.5 million, and Bears management wanted to give him $4 million. Chicago will miss out on one of the best centers that the franchise has ever had over $500,000. I think this is ridiculous!

The six-time Pro Bowler gave his blood and sweat for the Bears, and he couldn't get an extra $500,000? The Bears are acting as if they had the entire off-season to get a new center acclimated to their offensive scheme. Bringing in a new center in such a short period of time under these circumstances will more than likely make the o-line regress from where they ended last season. I hope that Chris Spencer, the newly acquired center from the Seattle Seahawks, proves me wrong, but I have a hunch that Chicago's o-line will struggle once again this season in pass protection, and opening holes in the running game.

To me, it just doesn't look good for the Bears' offensive front to be going up against division foes in Minnesota with Jared Allen and company, Detroit with an even more talented d-line with Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ndamukong Suh, and first-round draft pick Nick Fairley, and Green Bay with their 3-4 defense led by Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji.

There are just some instances where you have to bite the bullet and just go all out for what's best. The Chicago Bears didn't seem to do that regarding the thing that they needed most, which was help on the o-line. Once again, I hope that I'm proven wrong, but the Bears could have been in a much better predicament if they just had spent and extra $500,000.

Clyde A. Speller

Olsen Out, Williams In.

noreply@blogger.com (Clyde A. Speller) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:52:00 +0000

I'm still a little shocked with the Greg Olsen trade to the Carolina Panthers. The only explanation for this trade that I can think of is that Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz is determined to go back to how he ran his offense with the St. Louis Rams, which is not using the tight end in the passing game. If that is the case, then the Bears are going about this the right way. In addition to trading Olsen, Chicago did release tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, who failed a physical, but did sign Pittsburgh Steelers unrestricted free agent tight end Matt Spaeth. Spaeth will be looked upon to be the blocking tight end that Manumaleuna was last season.

Although the Bears will be losing a big target in the passing game, it looks as if they will compensate for that loss by adding recently released Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams. The 6' 3", 215-pound Williams isn't a stranger to the Bears' offense. The former Texas Longhorn played under Martz while both were with the Detroit Lions, and had his best season in the 2006 season with 82 receptions for 1,310 yards, seven touchdowns, and a trip to the Pro Bowl.

Slowly, but surely the Chicago Bears are getting their pieces in place to defend their NFC North title and make a run for the Super Bowl. The biggest piece of the puzzle, at least in my opinion, still remains a mystery. Is Olin Kruetz going to re-sign with Chicago? I'm happy that the Bears are adding weapons to their passing arsenal, but what good would those weapons be if Kruetz isn't there to anchor that o-line? There would be no need to get Williams if Kruetz isn't there to solidify that line and keep Jay Cutler from getting killed...again. Without that line, Cutler won't even have a chance to get the ball to Williams, or any of the Bears receivers.

COME ON BEARS, GET THE DEAL DONE!!!

Clyde A. Speller

The Bears Minus Kreutz Equals Disaster.

noreply@blogger.com (Clyde A. Speller) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:12:00 +0000

It has been said that the Chicago Bears may lose center Olin Kreutz to the San Francisco 49ers. I sincerely hope that the Bears don't give in and let the Niners outbid them for the cornerstone of their offensive line, the same line that gave up an NFL-high 56 sacks last season. Although Kreutz is up there in age, he is still one of the best centers in the game, and the heart and soul of Chicago's offense. Without the six-time Pro Bowler, quarterback Jay Cutler can look forward to another season of picking himself up off of the ground after every other pass play. Not to mention, the center position is the only position that is set in stone with the 13-year veteran there. With Kreutz out of the mix, it will be back to square one for offensive coordinator Mike Martz and offensive line coach Mike Tice, which could lead to inconsistency in the running game and an unbalanced offensive attack.

Although the Bears could use some more help on the o-line, as well as at the receiver position, re-signing Kreutz would be the biggest, and most important move that Chicago can do in order to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive for the 2011 season.

Clyde A. Speller

Players to Watch- Nick Reed

noreply@blogger.com (JRGiertych) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:41:00 +0000

Directly following the finish of the NFL season Jerry Angelo made his fist move of the off-season, signing a young, versatile and hard-working defensive end named Nick Reed (98). This move didn’t make any waves, or even make it onto many news sources, but could end up being significant in the short term (especially on special teams) and over the long term (as more playing time presents itself on the defensive line).

Reed’s college career was especially brilliant; he set the school record for sacks in a single season at Oregon University, recording 29.5 while essentially dominating the conference. This hasn’t translated to immediate success in the NFL, but this can be attributed more to limited playing time and opportunities than anything else. History shows that when given the opportunity this young man comes through for his coach and teammates.

At 6 feet one inch tall and two hundred and forty eight pounds Reed is not the ideal size for most NFL coach’s defensive schemes. Though this may have affected his playing time and opportunities at Seattle it should not within Lovie Smith’s Tampa Two defense, which holds speed and athleticism in higher regard than physical attributes.

In college and throughout his brief career in the NFL Reed has developed a reputation as being an incredibly driven and hard worker. According to coaches, friends, and other colleagues his motor never stops running, which will serve him well in Chicago. The fans and media all appreciate this kind of consistent professional approach to ones work.

As the pre season starts, keep one eye on number ninety eight at all times when he is on the field. He will be fighting for a spot in the defensive line rotation and special teams and is always exciting to watch and won’t disappoint. -JGIERTY-

What's Next for the Chicago Bears

noreply@blogger.com (nflsportswriter) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:20:00 +0000

It was a season of highs and lows for the 2010 Chicago Bears. The loss to the Packers in the NFC Championship game left fans scratching their heads in disbelief. The criticism brewed into a firestorm of questions regarding Jay Cutler’s injury and his physical toughness.

The team now finds itself surrounded by uncertainties, questions and unknowns heading into the offseason. The contract extension for Lovie Smith, the team's franchise quarterback having questionable decision making and attitude problems are just the tip of the iceberg for the Bears.

It was Jay Cutler’s injury that sparked the media frenzy after the game, regarding the severity of his injury. It’s fair to say that every athlete has his or her own tolerance level to pain when dealing with an injury. For other professional athletes to publicly share their opinion on someone else’s pain tolerance is ridiculous to say the least.

It was unfortunate that Cutler's physical toughness was being questioned. Jay Cutler is a physically tough football player; however, his mental toughness and attitude is a glaring problem for the young quarterback on and off the field.

His behavior after the game helped solidify why his mental toughness and decision making brewed into a major concern. It's not that he walked up two flights of stairs for a nice dinner with his trophy girlfriend, or that he was filmed walking around at an outdoor mall in California without even a limp in his step.

It’s the fact that he knew the media would further exploit the situation, causing more friction between him, the organization and the fans. It’s the fact that Cutler and the Bears failed to provide adequate PR efforts to stop the already damaged reputation. Jay Cutler was injured, plain and simple. I’m sure he wanted to play and grind it out to the end. Unfortunately for him and the Bears, it was what happened off the field and after the game that will forever haunt him and the organization.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith is 63-49 with a 3-3 postseason record. Throughout this season, Smith has shown the ability to lead a team loaded with different personalities and player traits. Smith has shown the continued tradition of strong Bears defenses, three times ranking in the NFL's top five.

That being said, let’s not forget that just a year ago, there was speculation that the Chicago Bears head coach was on the hot seat. Some of his decision making this year has been question, such as why Todd Collins was ahead of Caleb Hanie in the depth chart this season.
General manager Jerry Angelo has publicly stated they are working out an extension for Smith. The question is how much he is worth. Smith will earn $5 million in 2011, the final year of his current deal. It’s still unknown what his extension will be worth. It’s also fair to note that a head coach is only as good as his assistants. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli excelled in his first year as a D-coordinator, and Mike Martz showed his ability to make this offense a productive unit.

Rod Marinelli did score a new defensive line coach already this offseason. Mike Phair has spent the last six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks; however, only three of those years were on the coaching staff. Phair served as assistant linebackers coach (2008), assistant defensive line coach (2009) and defensive assistant (2010).

It's no secret that the Bears defensive unit is aging, but still played at a very high level in 2010. It was very fortunate for the Bears that most of the key players stayed healthy throughout the season. The Bears will no doubt be looking at improving the depth on both sides of the ball with player acquisitions.

The Bears offensive line made a huge turnaround in the second half of the season; however, it still needs to be improved. Roberto Garza is signed through 2011. He played well, with five starts on the left side and 11 on the right. He should be back in Chicago next year manning the right guard position. It's likely that Chris Williams, who is signed through 2012, will return to a tackle position. Williams did shift to the left guard position last season; however, his production was average at best. Jerry Angelo will have an interior lineman on his radar going into the draft.
The Bears have some work to do this offseason. Every year teams will need to deal with some roster turnover due to injuries, age and contract status. The Bears are no different. One thing is for sure, the Bears have good players and a good coaching staff. It will take some work to get this team back into the playoffs in 2011. Considering that the Green Bay Packers were not very healthy, the Detroit Lions are getting stronger and the Vikings will improve, the NFC North division will be very hard to win.

Wrote By: Andrew Maisonneuve NFL Sports Writer

"Maybe Next Year"

noreply@blogger.com (JRGiertych) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:30:00 +0000

A week after the Bears loss in the NFC championship the team is surrounded by questions, doubts and unknowns. Their General Manager is prematurely set to offer Lovie Smith a contract extension based on the seasons “success” and the teams quarterback and supposed franchise player, Jay Cutler, has displayed decision making and an attitude that is questionable at best. Going along with all of this, the core talent of the team (specifically the defensive unit) is aging.

Throughout this season Lovie Smith has shown that his greatest asset as a head coach is his ability to manage strong, sometimes strange or abrasive personalities, and getting the most out of each player on his team, regardless of talent or attitude. That being said, the management has proven to be so inept at judging talent in the draft that Smith’s squad is aging, and has little to no young first round talent preparing to take the pressure off the older or less talented players already playing above their skill level on the team.

The undervaluation of talent has been a theme throughout Jerry Angelo’s tenure as general manager of the team. Other than Brian Urlacher and maybe two years of Tommie Harris’ career the first round draft picks of the past ten years for this organization have been awful. Angelo seems to scheme his talent evaluation on draft day based on what kind of bargain he can get on the player and not how they will affect the team.

Chris Williams is a perfect example. On draft day every team in the league knew that he would miss most if not all of his first season, and that physically he was not an ideal NFL caliber left tackle, which was the greatest team need and Angelo still drafted him. Now a couple of years into his career Williams looks to be a near complete bust, one of the weakest links in the already sub-par offensive line.

Smith’s biggest mistake was seemingly refusing to step in and ground “the mad genius” Mike Martz (who is stubborn and reckless with his play calling), specifically in regards to Todd &$%#’ing Collins. Why was he higher on the depth chart than Hanie, or even on the roster?. How long do you need to be a coach in the league to realize that Todd Collins did not even belong in the broadcast booth, let alone on the field at this point of his career? As if the game weren’t already embarrassing enough at that point for the average Chicago fan.

The quarterback rotation was Mike Martz’s responsibility, and he insisted on keeping Collins above Hanie after spring training ended. This speaks for itself, surely there was a surplus of moments in practices where Collin's ineptness was made clear, along with instances of Hanie’s potential.

This coaching mentality goes right along with Martz’s tendency to try and pass downfield, getting away from the run during important games and in key situations. The Giant’s game was a good example; the offense had some limited success with the run in the few games leading up to the matchup, and once it became clear that the offensive line could not handle the pass pressure, Martz refused to change his strategy, risking his quarterback’s health and unit’s dignity in the process.

This kind of approach led Martz to make bewildering play calls throughout the NFC Championship (see Earl Bennet end around on third and two on the teams final possession) and served as a reminder why no other teams were killing themselves to make him a coaching offer during the previous off-season.

The lightning rod for criticism during and after the game has obviously been Jay Cutler. After this past season his physical toughness should never be questioned, but the NFC championship game proved that he lacks in mental toughness, more so than had already been presumed. Immediately after the game it was disgusting to hear players and commentators throughout the league questioning his dedication and toughness.

His behavior following the game helped justify some of these views, further damaging his reputation.

Days after the game while mindlessly working with the television droning on in the background Jay Cutler’s name could be heard being uttered, but not by anyone on ESPN or any other legitimate news organization, but by TMZ. Pictured was Jay getting dragged around (without a limp) by his pseudo-famous girlfriend in some outdoor mall in California. Immediately it became clear that the NFC championship had not meant much of anything to the Bear’s quarterback.

Chicago fans hate this kind of behavior. He should have known this. He should have laid low. He should have been thinking of next year. He should have been a professional. Instead he was on TMZ.

In that one trip to the mall Cutler managed to discredit himself and hurt the entire organization. A team cannot win with a quarterback that takes himself out of big games, seemingly because of nerves. The Chicago public will now always doubt their quarterback, and certainly so will his team. The rest of the league knew where his priorities stood which would explain why so many people were lying in wait to insult his credibility.

It certainly is hard to be optimistic about an organization who's coaches positive affects are undermined by poor talent evaluation, aging stars, and led by a quarterback who may have hit a talent plateau way below expectations. This past season the Bears were very lucky to stay healthy and their defense played at an elevated level. Healthy seasons in the NFL are like lightning, they never strike twice in the same place, and the defense has aged itself to the dark side of the mountain, slowly in decline. Even so, the Cubs fan I grew up as whispers, “maybe next year”. –J. R.Gierty-

We Need to be Smarter Fans

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Naber) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:03:00 +0000

Jay Cutler is getting killed in this city today. Just one day after he led a very average Bears team to the NFC Championship game. He is getting pounded for sitting out when he is really hurt. I understand the meathead frustration because people wanted him to play through it. I understand being angry because the Bears lost to the hated Packers. I was angry yesterday. Then I had a chance to think about it like a rational person, and I realized that Cutler was too hurt to play. Had the Bears won, he would likely have been inactive for Super Bowl. His injury has a three to four week minimum recovery period.

To question Cutler’s toughness is just dumb. This is a guy who gets his ass kicked week in and week out. Cutler was far and away the most sacked QB in the NFl, and in only fifteen games. He never complains that his offensive line couldn’t block a high school team. He never complains that he has to hold on to the ball because his receiving core that is full of number 3’s is never open. He takes his beatings, and he gets up and calls the next play. He never throws his teammates under the bus. He is a man’s man. People burning their Cutler jerseys because he got injured are imbeciles. What happens if he comes back in and tears his knee apart? Then we are again without a quarterback.

We should be embracing this guy, not trying to alienate him. I know no one in this city has ever seen a real quarterback in a Bears uniform. Don’t tell me you saw Sid Luckman. Today’s game is completely different. And certainly don’t give me Jim McMahon. Jimmy Mac was a warrior and he was tough, right? I love him too, but think back to all the time he spent injured. And he was nowhere near as good as Cutler. Embrace this. We have a real quarterback. He isn’t a superstar yet, but he is really good. He was worth what was traded for him and more.

If you’re mad about the Bears losing to the Packers, I get it. So am I. The better team won. I don’t care if they were at Soldier Field. Don’t displace your anger as though you never matured passed the age of five. Think about it. Blame Lovie Smith for differing to start the game instead of letting the best kick returner of all time do his thing. Blame the defense for allowing the Bears to get into a fourteen point hole. Blame Cutler for having a bad first half. Blame a silly end-around play to Earl Bennett. Blame all these things and many more. Do NOT blame Jay Cutler sitting down after the coaches and trainers told him to. That’s dumb. Be a better and smarter fan than that. This isn’t Jacksonville or some other small market nothing. This is Chicago. It’s time we watch sports like we have brains.

Bears-Packers Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Cooper Rushing) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:37:00 +0000

The Bears and Packers own arguably the best rivalry in all of sports.

Not only will it be on full display Sunday afternoon, but it will determine the NFC Champion and who moves onto the Superbowl.

Both teams enter Sunday with big wins the previous week. The Packers shocked the Falcons with a 48-21 victory behind the arm of Aaron Rodgers. The Bears handled the playoff underdog Seahawks fairly easily as well, defeating them 35-24. During the regular season the Bears and Packers played twice, splitting wins. But regardless of the regular season, the Packers come in as one of the hottest playoff teams, whereas the Bears come in poised, rested and healthy. This game will be decided based on matchups and these are the most intriguing ones to watch:

Devin Hester vs. Green Bay's Kick-off/Punt Team

Devin Hester is one of the most dangerous players in the NFL, and maybe in history. The Packers can't risk kicking to him, especially since Eric Weems burned them on a 102-yard kick return last week. While they may decide not to kick to him, this is not an easy task. Week in and week out teams try to avoid Hester and have been known to give the Bears excellent field position. If the Packers special teams shorten the field for Jay Cutler every possession, they're going to have a difficult time winning this game especially since the Bears have one of the NFL's most accurate kickers in Robbie Gould. The grass at Soldier Field isn't exactly in great shape, so if you see the Packers giving Dangerous Devin a chance, don't be surprised to see him running past over-pursuing, slipping Packers.

EDGE: Devin Hester

Bears Receivers vs. Packers Corners

Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson are serious playmakers and have been proving that throughout the postseason. Williams picked off Matt Ryan near the end of the half and took it 70 yards for a touchdown. Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Earl Bennett didn't have too much production last week, but all of these guys are very fast and can break a long touchdown at any time. Don't expect to see a huge day from any of these receivers, but they could definitely figure for a touchdown or two.

EDGE: Packers Corners

Greg Olsen vs. Packers Linebackers/Safeties

Greg Olsen played a huge part in the Bears route over the Seahawks last week and he'll be a big factor again. Linebacker Clay Matthews is a likely candidate to win the defensive MVP award and Safety Nick Collins is a pro bowler. In their first meeting, Olsen had his way with the Packers, catching 5 passes for 64 yards and a score. These two will have their hands full with Olsen, who is both big and athletic. Matthews loves to blitz and move around the field, so don't be surprised if you see Olsen guarded by Collins often. Cutler has done a fine job this year against the blitz, getting the ball out quickly, sometimes during his drop or off his back foot. There is a good chance the Packers key on him because of his showing last week, so don't be surprised if he has a linebacker on him with possible safety help.

EDGE: Greg Olsen

Bears Run O vs. Packers Run D

In order to win the game, the Bears must focus on establishing the run early and often. I know this can discourage fans, but this is the truth. The Falcons couldn't get Michael Turner going, and as a result, they fell behind early and had to abandon the run. The Bears offense all takes place under-center, and the element of run and play action will allow them to move the ball. B.J. Raji is a force inside and will give the Bears troubles all day. Chicago needs to double team him and be aware of his presence. Matt Forte and Chester Taylor need to expose the Packers run defense early and must to do it on the edges. The Bears zone run scheme has worked well all year, allowing Forte and Taylor to be able to cutback and run through holes as they see them. If the Bears can take away Raji and work to the second level, they will have some success running the ball.

EDGE: Packers Run D

Jay Cutler vs. Aaron Rodgers

Even though these two are never on the field at the same time, they both need to compete in one very important stat: Turnovers. Turnovers will decide this game and it will depend on who makes the most turnovers and who turns it over first. An early turnover can be a killer, ultimately deciding the game before it even starts. Cutler has been known to make poor decisions and Rodgers has been known to occasionally try to do too much. Both need to protect the football, but it will not come easy. Not only are they going to be competing in rough field conditions, they will each face defenses known for making plays. Both have played fantastic football of late and neither have been giving away easy turnovers. But, mark my words, there will be a few in this game and they will be costly.

EDGE: EVEN

Lovie Smith vs. Mike McCarthy

Battle of the nice guys. Neither coach sports a smile too often, but one will be grinning at the end of this one. Lovie's staff consists of three former head coaches. Mike Tice, former Vikings head coach, is coaching the offensive line and is doing a great job with little talent. Early on, the O-line struggled often, but Tice has fixed this and greatly improved the line that looks better each week. Rod Marinelli, former Lions coach, was hired to coach the defensive line and he has done an exceptional job as well. He has resurfaced Julius Peppers, and if anyone remembers, Peppers was heavily criticized in the past. Now Peppers is known for his talent and fear he strikes in offensive linemen. Criticism this year has been nonexistent. Finally the Bears went out and got Mike Martz, former Rams coach, to be their offensive coordinator. Him and Cutler have meshed quite well so far and he quickly turned the Bears into serious contenders. It may not be the Greatest Show on Turf, but it can be explosive and has obviously got them to the NFC Championship game. Mike McCarthy has his fair share of accomplishments, as he was named NFC Assistant Coach of the Year back in 2000 with the Saints. While McCarthy barely squeaked the Packers in the playoffs, he has been coaching nearly unstoppable football of late and has been an under-the-radar factor of their success since much of the praise has only been going to Rodgers.

EDGE: Lovie & Co.

These matchups will dictate the game, along with the Packers plan for Julius Peppers. Green Bay's receivers have been decent of late but have made poor plays throughout the playoffs. Against the Eagles, James Jones dropped a for sure touchdown on a perfect throw by Rodgers, and last week, Greg Jennings gave up a momentum shifting fumble. If the Bears can force these kinds of turnovers on the Packers receivers and protect the ball on offense they will come up with a big win.

The Bears seem to be underdogs yet again based on the media. While it is a little insulting that the Bears aren't favored with a 2 seed and a home game, they don't mind holding the quiet identity. About being 3 point underdogs, Danieal Manning said, "I'm surprised we weren't underdogs this last game we just played. It doesn't surprise me. We're just going to come in and do our best."

The game kicks off at 2:00 pm CT at Soldier Field.

-Cooper Rushing

Cutler Gets A Bad Wrap

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Naber) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:47:00 +0000

There has been a lot of talk the last couple weeks about Jay Cutler. The national writers, having almost no feel for anything that goes on away from the east coast, think Jay Cutler is a jerk. He does not use the media to his advantage, or at all. They think he throws the ball all over the field with no rhyme or reason. He is always just an interception waiting to happen. According to national “experts,” Jay has done nothing right. They seem to think he is a bad guy and a bad quarterback.

I think they are wrong. Jay Cutler is not always friendly with the media. He seems to think that every Wednesday is a pain when he has to approach the podium. He does not go out and broadcast every decent thing that he does like Bono. And he isn’t Bono. Jay gives a great deal of time and money to charities, especially those involving diabetes. In fact, I just bought ten raffle tickets from Cutler’s website to win tickets to the NFC Championship game against the Packers. All of the proceeds for the raffle go to finding a cure for diabetes, which is an affliction Cutler himself suffers from.

As far as his play, I think Jay Cutler is pretty damn good. In two seasons for the Bears, Jay cutler has thrown for nearly 7,000 yards and fifty touchdowns. The interception number was too high last season, but he had the weight of an entire city that had never seen a real quarterback before on his shoulders. The fact of the matter is that Jay Cutler became the best and most talented quarterback the Bears ever had the day they traded for him. He has a canon for an arm. He is sneaky fast at times. He is fearless to a fault sometimes. He is tough as nails. He gets hit more than any quarterback in football, and he keeps getting up.

Jay Cutler is not Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. He’s not even Aaron Rodgers or Philip Rivers. But he is a hell of a quarterback, and he has the talent to become one of the best in the league. His decision making has improved in an extremely difficult to understand Mike Martz offense. There is no reason to believe he will not continue to improve. Most important of all, Cutler will be here for a long time, and I am thrilled. I can’t wait to see how good he can become. Jay Cutler is finally a release from the three yards and a cloud of dust football silliness that has been outdated for years. The NFL makes rules to benefit passing. The league wants teams to pass, and now the Bears finally have someone who can do that.

Winning Matters Most, Not Who You Beat

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Naber) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:45:00 +0000

Four days ago, the Bears opened their postseason run against the only team ever to reach the playoffs with a losing record. The argument could very easily be made that the Bears faced the worst team in postseason history. This weekend, they will be facing a six seed at home. If they win, they could end up playing another six seed (the Jets) in the Super Bowl. By seeding, this would probably be the easiest road to a title in league history.

I have only one reply to anyone who uses that as a negative critique. So what! As a Bears’ fan, I don’t care that they have an “easy” route to the Super Bowl. I wish they had to play Cleveland, Carolina, and Buffalo to win the Lombardi Trophy. The only goal in the NFL is to win the Super Bowl. That’s it. You don’t get extra points for beating the best teams in the league. There is no asterisk by your name for because you beat a bad Seahawks team.

A year ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from the NHL playoffs. I was thrilled because I knew the Blackhawks were good enough to win the Cup. To be able to avoid Sidney Crosby and the Pens was a blessing. Having to beat a Flyers team that just got into the playoffs on the last day of the season did not make the Stanley Cup victory any less memorable or enjoyable. It was special. The last time the Hawks were champions was 21 years before I was born.

Now, 25 years removed from the ’85 Bears winning the Super Bowl (against the Patriots and not the Dolplhins who were a better team), I want another title. I don’t care how it gets done. I want them to be credited with being the best team in the world.

Nobody ever cares who a team had to beat to be the best. Nobody cares that Elway beat Jamal Anderson’s Falcons instead of a 15-1 Vikings team to win his second title. Nobody cares the Ravens won their Super Bowl against a very average Giants team. It just doesn’t matter. If the Bears needed to defeat the Eagles, Falcons, and Patriots to win the Super Bowl, it wouldn’t mean anything more. In summation, if there is anything I can implore you the reader to do, it is to enjoy this. The Bears and Packers haven’t played a playoff game in sixty years. This is a great time in Chicago. If the Bears somehow raise the Lombardi Trophy three weeks from now, it simply will not matter how they got there. It will just matter that they did.

Roll out the barrel...?

noreply@blogger.com (JRGiertych) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:53:00 +0000

On Sunday the 23^rd the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will meet for the 182^nd time in the NFC Championship game, in what is sure to turn out to be another great game in such a long and historic rivalry between the two teams. Many have picked the Packers to win, citing Aaron Rodgers golden arm and Jay Cutler’s inconsistencies, Dom Capers defensive schemes, and the Bears offensive line woes as evidence. These observations are accurate and fair in many ways but also oversimplify the matchups and the challenges both players and their teams will face.

Aaron Rodgers status as an elite quarterback in the NFL is undeniable as he has already had an incredible year. His quarterback rating rests at 101.2 which is exemplary, made even more impressive considering the concussion that he sustained in the middle of the season. Rodgers also had to deal with other key players getting injured on his offense (Ryan Grant, Jermichael Finley) but was able to persevere and end the season with an accuracy percentage of 65.7, impressive by any standards. In a short period of time Rodgers has cemented his reputation as being elusive and accurate to a standard very few others have even the abilities to achieve.

Jay Cutler’s numbers are comparable to Rodgers in some aspects, but lacking in others. His overall QB rating rests at 86.3 and the gap between him and Rodgers’ 101.2 appears larger than it is (Rodgers TDS: 28 INT: 11, Cutler TDS: 23 INT 16). This gap represents more the difference in these two quarterbacks’ philosophies, styles of play and tendencies than their abilities or effectiveness on the field. Cutler and Rodgers both have the same abilities, which are rare even by NFL standards, but Rodgers plays a much smarter and calculating style at the position. When Rodgers attacks a defense he works methodically like a surgeon whereas Cutler goes into the game with the mentality of a boxer, looking to trade jabs and look for a knockout blow.

Cutler vs. Rodgers being too close to call as a definite edge for either team brings into question the other areas of focus for each team.

Dom Capers was added as the Defensive Coordinator last year and has proven to be a fantastic addition. Capers has turned what was an awful defensive unit into a force to be reckoned with. He has achieved this with a very complicated scheme that incorporates a 3-4 defensive front and blitzes from every angle imaginable. A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews have both blossomed in the new scheme while both having slow starts to their careers when first entering the league. The Packers are going to be relying on Capers unit to shut down the Bear’s offense, namely Cutler, in order for Rodgers to take over the game. For this to happen they are going to need to attack the Bears biggest negative focus point, the offensive line.

The Bear’s offensive line has given up over fifty sacks to opposing teams throughout the past season. To win more than five games in a season with that many sacks would be amazing, let alone to win ten as the Bears did. This is a testament to how well they played the later part of the season. The success of the team and morale of fans both reached critical mass at many point throughout the season because of this unit. Much of the Bears success will lie on which version of this unit shows up, and if they can weather the storm of blitzes that Capers will be throwing at them.

The Bears and Packers match up very well on paper and this game should prove to come down to the last possession as a result. This rivalry has a history of hard fought, vicious, and close games. This addition should not disappoint. The matchups are so close that ultimately the game should come down to the human element and which team and quarterback can deal with unforeseen challenges and improvise. This goes against Rodgers and Capers offensive and defensive game plans, which are both very detail oriented and appear to at times become confused by surprises as a result. . Though the Bears offensive line still remains an unknown it has been this way for the entire season, which has forced itself and Cutler to succeed in a hostile environment while constantly being under pressure. As a result of these factors amongst others the Bears seize the overall edge for the game and win a hard fought game on a Robbie Gould field goal, Bears 27- Packers 24.

Thus my first blog ends, and hopefully it was fun for you to read. This will be the first of many I write on the different teams in greater Chicagoland, and the writing should get more in depth and outside of the box as I get more used to the format. I am sure that there are plenty of negative and positive takes on the past article, and I look forward to reading your comments and posts (try and be courteous). Rock on and Go Bears!

Stick With The Facts Mamn, Just The Facts.

noreply@blogger.com (Greill Kupicky) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:18:00 +0000

By: Greil Kupicky

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence. ~John Adams~

Fact-This team has no offensive line. Evidence-Cutler has been sacked 15 times in two starts. Plus, hit countless times.

Fact-When you get hit 15 times in two games, you will get injured. Evidence-Cutler missed last game with a concussion.

Fact-When an offensive line can't pass block and when you can't run either, you loose the game. Evidence-The Giants and Seahawks games.

Fact-If you have no offense to speak of and don't win games, you won't make it to the playoffs. Evidence-remains to be seen.

John Adams knew it. I know it. Even my neighbor's peewee playing son Jimmy, who watched the game with me on Sunday, knows it. "Mr. Kupicky?" he asked, "Why do they keep dropping back to pass if they know they're going to keep getting sacked?"

"That's a great question Jimmy," I replied. And guess what, I can't for the life of me figure out the answer. I'm not an offensive genius like Mike Martz, but I do know that the definition of insanity is when you try over and over again to achieve something and get the same results, yet you continue to try expecting different results.

Not all of our woes are a result of Mike Martz's stubborn affection to seven step drops. This all goes back to Angelo and his stubborness. Why oh why did we not go after offensive linemen this last off-season when we clearly needed them? Were the holes not apparent? They were to me, to all of Chicao Bear's fandom, NFL experts and peewee leaguers. It was obvious to everyone but Jerry Angelo apparently. But what's done is done. So what now? We have more than half a season to go. Do we sit back and continue our stubborn ways of passing the ball in seven step drops come Hell or high water? Well, I have some ideas.

Idea number one, do whatever it takes to get an offensive tackle on this team right now. Logan Mankins, a Pro-bowler tackle from the Patriots is unhappy. He'll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and will likely go to another team. Why not make an offer to the Pats, a draft pick might entice them to let him go now. It's a win for everyone. The Bears get a new Tackle that's good, The Pats get a draft pick for someone they'll probabally loose anyway, and Mankins gets the money he wants. But, what do I know. I'm no expert.

Idea two (Past)...Why the heck didn't we go for a legit wide receiver? A third round pick would have gotten either Randy Moss or Brandon Marshall. Did you hear that? A third round pick! Terrell Owens was also available. Look, I understand Terrell is a cancer in the locker room, so I get that one, but I would have jumped on the other two in a heartbeat. Why not? For a third round pick? That's because Angelo clearly thought that the wide outs on this team were good enough. I'm not saying that they aren't good at all, I actually really like Hester and Knox, and I think Aromashado and Olsen are good, too. But they make a lot of mistakes, and the mistakes they make cost us games. Mainly, they run wrong routes, which was evident about a dozen or so times this season already when Knox or Hester were on the other side of the field when Cutler was throwing to them, but they often line up on the wrong side of the damn field, as was evident yesterday when two of our three second half time outs were called as a result. Again, I'm no expert. Maybe someday I can become a genius like these guys and run a carwash.

Idea three, quit throwing the ball every single play. Football is a game of strategy, so to beat another team's defense, you have to fool them. To fool them, you have to mix it up a bit. Play actions work nicely if they actually think you might ever actually run the football. Honestly, with the horendous offensive line play I've witnessed this year, and this is the worst offensive line I have ever seen on any team, why not make some adjustments. In Martz's defense, they run for about 2.2 yards per carry currently, except against Carolina. So, here's what I'd do. Stack the line with Omayay and Williams, Web and Williams, Krutz, and how about trying Shaffer as a tight end...just to fricken block so you can run. Why not? That would give you two tackles on the tight end side. Maybe we could run and protect Cutler that way. OR, if you want the status quo, fine. Then line up in the shotgun formation every play, because you're not fooling anyone with a seven step drop anyway, and Cutler is blind to the Safety and CB blitzes that are coming all the time now. Give him a chance in a shotgun so he can see it coming and get rid of the ball. Oh yeah, Cutler, get rid of the damn ball sometimes. Oh yeah, Martz, how about quick passes from a three step drop sometimes? How about some shorter passes once ina while? I'm all for your score a touchdown philosophy, but sometimes, you just need to get a first down. Those crossing routes worked both times you threw them, and Olsen had zero catches yesterday. Again, I'm not an offensive genius, but I would be willing to try anything other than what I saw yesterday. Be inventive. Think outside the box. Work with what you got and cater to their streangths, don't try to fit players into a system that they aren't meant to fit into.

Idea four, Chester Taylor. Why did we get this guy? I think Forte is awesome and I love him, but he really has trouble hitting holes on running plays, ie 2.2 yards per carry. I say switch Forte and Taylor's roles and have Chester the 1st down back, him and Forte switch 2nd downs every series or so, and Forte is the third down back. Taylor should definately be in on short yardage plays and on red zone plays. G-E-N-I-U-S!

There, I just gave four ideas in about 10 minutes. Am I a genius? No. Do I know football. I think so, enough to state the obvious anyway. So what's it going to be Bears management? Status quo, because your 4 and 2 right now doing what you do? OR, reality, sanity, not vanity. Because anyone who doesn't agree that this is the worst 4 and 2 football team that they've ever seen is a dreamer. There's things you can do...do it!

Bears Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Cloud Realty) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:33:00 +0000

I just hope the Bears aren't rushing Jay Cutler back from injury. Concussions are not injuries that should be taken lightly. We've seen many players have to end their careers from this. Trent Green, a Martz guy, comes to mind.

Edwin Who? That's what I thought when I heard Edwin Williams was starting for the Bears last week. But, I have to admit, Eddy and Big Webb played well considering who they are.

The Texans are collecting Bears d-linemen. With Anderson and Wale, the Texans have the Bears starting two ends from a couple years back.

Unrelated thought: I know for a fact that U of I football players accept money on the side. Guys, college players get paid more often than you think. College football is one of the shadiest things going on, but because it hides behind the cloak of academia, it doesn't seem so dirty. The fact is the big time players aren't there for school. They're there just taking up space and wasting time until their big payday: draft day.

Not Pretty But Bears Are 3-0

noreply@blogger.com (JT3) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:09:00 +0000

I am not sure what to make of the Bears so far. They lose the game against the Lions if not for the controversial call made at the end of game where Calvin Johnson's catch was not ruled a catch according to league rules. Chicago also struggled against Dallas early on and if not for the Packers racking up 18, count them, 18 penalties, the Bears could easily be 0-3instead of 3-0.

The glaring concern is that the offensive line has struggled in each of the games so far this year and Cutler has paid the price having to take a lot of hard hits. The running game has yet to emerge as the Bears are averaging less than three yards per rushing attempt. You can't continue to win games if you can't protect your quarterback or establish a ground game. The defense has played decent but they were on the field for what seemed like an eternity in the second half as Green Bay put together two drives; each eating up nearly eight minutes off the clock. All three of these areas will have to show continued improvement if they hope to continue the success they've had thus far.

2011 NFL Mock Draft

noreply@blogger.com (Cloud Realty) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:16:00 +0000

I know its super early, and I'm a huge Bears homer, but here is my first 2011 NFL Mock Draft. Also check out the 2011 NFL Mock Draft Database

1. Buffalo Bills: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Bills have the worst quarterback situation in the league including Arizona. Their offensive line, receivers and defense all need upgrades. But at least the have three starting running backs...

2. Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

Can play down or standing up. A good pick here.

3. St. Louis Rams: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

His suspension will have no bearing on his draft status this kid can play.

4. Detroit Lions: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

Good defensive front. Good young quarterback and offensive weapons. Terrible secondary. The Lions are definitely on the uptick though.

5. Carolina Panthers: Marcell Dareus, DE/DT, Alabama

John Fox is gone after this season. A new coach will have a new defensive anchor. By the way, thanks for letting us take Chris Harris back.

6. Seattle Seahawks: Jake Locker, QB, Washington

Hometown hero. Hasselbeck is done and Charlie Whitehurst is not the savior (even though he looks like him).

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

Mathis will be too expensive to keep.

8. Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M

Probably wished Locker was still around. What's their starting quarterback's name again..? Matt Hall?

9. New England Patriots: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Oh those Raiders... Good luck for the Pats. Maroney turned out to be a bust. With Moss all but gone, look for the Pats to maybe run the ball more next season.

10. Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh

If Cassel is still around he could use another weapon...

11. Denver Broncos: Allen Bailey, DE/DT, Miami

A definite upgrade to their defensive line.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

With the Bucs quietly becoming the Bengals south by acquiring players with character concerns, Clayborn seems like a good fit. This pick would signal the making of a young and potentially dominant front four in Tampa

13. Philadelphia Eagles: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas

Vick, Vick, Vick. That's all everyone wants to talk about with the Eagles. However, they could use a corner.

14. Green Bay Packers: Shane Vereen, RB, California

They need a running back to complement all the other talent on offense.

15. Minnesota Vikings: Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma

Quarterback is also a concern with Grandpa finally going into a home...

16. New York Giants: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College

Good positional value for Reese.

17. Tennessee Titans: Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina

Need help defensively. Carter can ball.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas

Palmer has stunk for the Bengals.

19. New York Jets: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Edwards will be gone. Holmes might be. This passing attack has room to improve.

20. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech

Brown's injury prone. Williams is old. Miami wants to run the ball. Good pick.

21. San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami

Clements is 32 and overpaid. Good pick here also.

22. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Could take this offense from good to great.

23. San Diego Chargers: Joseph Barksdale, OT, LSU

McNeil cold never be resigned. Look for the Chargers to go OT.

24. New England Patriots: Cameron Heyward, DE/DT, Ohio State

Could also use an OLB, but Heyward can also rush the passer from inside.

25. Dallas Cowboys: DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson

A good cover safety.

26. Washington Redskins: Cameron Jordan, DE/DT, California

My bet is Haynesworth(less) will be cut at the end of the season.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida

A lot of free agents and injury concerns for the Ravens at this position...

28. Indianapolis Colts: Mike Pouncey, G, Florida

This offensive is bad. Its been bad. You just realize because Peyton knows how to read defenses and get the ball to his hot receivers. Its not a coincidence they ranked last in rushing yards...

29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia

Good value pick. Could also look at OL or WR.

30. New Orleans Saints: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

As we all know Alex Brown is a beast, but they are still looking to upgrade the pas rush.

31. Houston Texans: Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh

Great complement to Mario Williams on the other side.

32. Chicago Bears: Jurrell Casey, DT, USC

Tommie Harris isn't Tommie Harris anymore. Peppers is the only player on that line doing anything. But after a super bowl win things could be worse...

Click here for more...

Bears Beat Cowboys 27-20; Improve To 2-0

noreply@blogger.com (JT3) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 21:56:00 +0000

After last week's game against the Lions, one of the glaring weaknesses was the play of the offensive line. Despite squandering several scoring the opportunities, the Bears came away 19-14 winners thanks to the officials declaring that Calvin Johnson's reception was not a catch.

In the first half against the Cowboys, the O-line continued to struggle as the Bears only had 13 total yards and three points on their first three possessions and Cutler was constantly picking himself off the ground on almost every play. However, the Bears did manage to get it together after that as they added 162 more yards and 17 points giving them a 20-14 lead at intermission.

While the Bears' offense didn't do much in the third quarter, their defense only yielded a field goal and the Bears led 20-17 heading into the final period. With more than half of the period gone in the final quarter, the Cowboys missed a chance to tie the game with 5:45 remaining. Following the missed field goal, the Bears scored on the following possession as Jay Cutler connected with Matt Forte for a three-yard touchdown pass to give the Bears a 27-17 lead and they would win 27-20 to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Cutler completed 21 of 29 passes for three touchdowns and no interceptions; this is far cry from the five picks he had thrown in 2009 through the first two games. However, the running game left a lot to be desire totaling only 35 yards on 14 carries for a poultry 2.5 yards per carry. While the Bears are off to a good start, the play of the offensive line and the running game will have to improve if they expect to continue to be successful this year.

Same Old Sorry Ass Bears

noreply@blogger.com (Chi City Louie) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:51:00 +0000

Same Old Sorry Ass Bears

Jerry Angelo should smile. Unless the Bears go 4-12, he's likely to return as GM. Only the Bears.

When I wrote before training camp started, that I want the Bears to shit the bed this season, it was for one reason. I don’t want the Bears to be bad and make me suffer through another 16 game disaster like ‘09. The thinking was, having this team bumble their way to a 6-10 season would guarantee the departures of team President Ted Phillips, general manager Jerry Angelo, and the coach, without a pulse, Lovie Smith. Much to my chagrin, apparently a playoff -less campaign still might not get rid of the Bears hierarchy. I swear these 3 are like a bad STD, or an annoying stage 5 clinger….they just won’t go away. With a possible lockout looming over the NFL in 2011, the Bears don’t want to have to pay off the 3 no- minds, and pay for their replacements. They want no part of paying for two GM’s and two coaches without 60,000 meatballs packing Soldier at least 8 times next fall. To an extent I get their point, but then I realized this is the Bears. Countless other teams will be firing coaches come January, and I’m pretty confident they know about the lockout too. I mean why wouldn’t a regime who has overseen three straight non playoff seasons be in jeopardy of losing their jobs? Mediocrity reigns at Halas Hall, and Bears fans are simply along for the ride.

The Bears should already have their replacements in mind. You know they had to compile a list before that charade of a press conference after last season. You remember the one. It’s when they started out saying there need to be changes– but quickly turned into the ”we believe in continuity” nonsense. That press conference stands alone as the biggest crock of shit I’ve ever seen the Bears put on. Yes, it tops the time they botched the Dave McGinnis hire. Name me another franchise in the NFL that would bring back a coach and GM after three straight non playoff seasons? Take your time and think about it…… Now comes word that it isn’t playoffs or bust for the retard regime. There’s one reason this garbage continues to happen, the McCaskey family.

Can someone wake Virginia up and tell her the most die hard fans in the NFL deserve better than those fools she has running her team? Signed, every breathing Bears fan.

Yes, that old bag of bones Virginia is still the main voice in Lake Forest. That’s pretty amazing when you consider she hasn’t shown much of a pulse since the NFC Championship game after the ‘06 season. When you look at the bad teams in the NFL over the past decade(Lions, Raiders, Rams, Bengals Cardinals and Browns to name a few) they all have one thing in common, bad ownership. Yes, the Bears had the nice two year spurt in ‘05 & ‘06, but I’d rank the Bears ownership in the bottom third of the league, slightly ahead of the teams listed above. That’s pathetic when you realize the Bears are the NFL’s charter franchise. George Halas is rolling over in his grave right now. I’ve told my buddy Andy(a die hard Raiders fan) that until Al Davis, aka Tales From The Crypt, passes on, the Raiders will continue to be a running joke. Now, if you’ve seen Al Davis in the past 3-4 years you’d say he’s been dead. That’s just a rumor. He is still breathing…..I think. This is unfortunately where the Bears are. Someone needs to poison her oatmeal. It’s as if the entire organization died in 1987, and we’ve been stuck with this misery ever since.

Important Bears Fact: I said died in 1987 because that’s when the Bears, should have been dynasty, fell apart. George Halas hired Mike Ditka and Jerry Vanisi to lead his team into the future. Check out the Bears ‘82, ‘83, and ‘84 drafts sometime. All of that work went up in flames when Michael McCaskey(we’ll get to him in a second) fired Vanisi in January of ‘87 and later Ditka after the ‘92 season.

Michael McCaskey ran the team into the ground(see the aforementioned Dave McGinnis botched hiring), and Ted Phillips has maintained his position even though he was hired only to get the new stadium deal done. The spaceship was completed in 2003– someone tell Virginia that please?! I don’t know which McCaskey clone is next in line, but this crap needs to change. Whether it’s Brian McCaskey or Brian Bozworth, mediocrity will continue to be as big a part of the Bears culture as the orange and blue team colors.

Side Note: While shelling out the big free agent dollars to Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor was nice, they didn’t want to give backup quarterback Todd Collins a $150,000 bonus earlier this week. (Why would they want to bring in a veteran backup when they possess one of the worst offensive lines in the league?) The McCaskey’s fretting over $150,000 is like a group of guys bitching about a $150 bar bill. Stupid? Yes. Unexpected? Hell no. By the way, this coming from a franchise worth close to 1.1 billion dollars.

I’ll stand by what I said and hope the Bears have a miserable 2010 season. Lockout or not, things cannot stay status quo. It was bad enough that they brought this trio of football stupidity back this season, but to do it again? Part of me would love to see how that would go over with the locals after a 6-10 train wreck. The Bears reside in the NFL’s 2nd largest market, yet we have to hear about not wanting to eat money on a coach who doesn’t have his team practice tackling and a GM who doesn’t like 1st & 2nd round picks? Can you see Jerry Jones keeping any coach after 3 non playoff seasons? Coaches get fired after specific playoff losses, yet we are subjected to “continuity.” Continuity is great if you are the Steelers. So, while you’re busy rooting your ass off & living and dying with this team this fall, just know the McCaskey’s will be counting your PSL money and not giving a rat’s ass whether or not their team makes the playoffs. This is why Bears fans shouldn’t be disappointed if the team sucks this year. It will put pressure on those money collectors in Lake Forest to show they actually care about hoisting a Lombardi trophy again. Until then, it’s more of the same from the sorry ass Bears. Who needs SuperBowls when the Bears have their fans right where they want them, and they know it.

Bears' Starters Look Good...So Far.

noreply@blogger.com (Clyde A. Speller) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:16:00 +0000

Much can't be said about the Chicago Bears in their first preseason game against the San Diego Chargers. Even though they lost 25-10, the starting units on both sides of the ball looked pretty good, considering the fact that they only played very little.

Jay Cutler only had two passes, but they were both big completions to Johnny Knox. The only thing that Cutler could have done better was to get the ball in the end zone. The player that a lot of people feels that will have a breakout year was, in my opinion, the stand out player of the game. Devin Aromashodu finished the game with 4 catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. The running game was a non-factor, probably because the Bears was more interested in seeing how Mike Martz's passing game would work.

Defensively, the starting unit did give up a touchdown on their second series, but showed promise in their first and third series. The Bears' defense forced a three-and-out on the first drive of the game, with two of the plays resulting in deflected passes by Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs. In the first-string's third and final defensive series, Chicago forced the Chargers to punt after giving up a first down. Julius Peppers didn't have a chance to show his pass rushing skills, due to the quick three-step drops by Philip Rivers. Thankfully, Brian Urlacher looked like his old self, despite not playing majority of last year due to a dislocated wrist.

If the performance of the Bears' starters gives us any indication of how the 2010 season will go, then things are looking fairly good...so far. Let's remember it takes more than just a few good series in a meaningless game to prove to Chicago fans that the Bears are ready to end their three-year playoff drought. I'm very happy that the Bears are pointed in the right direction, but being a die hard Bears fan for many years, I've had my high hopes crushed just because of good starts like this, thinking that the Bears were going to dominate. So I'll just sit back and closely watch the starters in the next couple of preseason games. Then I will make my judgement of whether the Bears will be ending that playoff drought or not. I advise you to do the same.

Clyde A. Speller

Is Anybody Out There?

noreply@blogger.com (Greill Kupicky) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:23:00 +0000

By: Greil Kupicky

In the movie Pink Floyd The Wall, there is a scene where Pink is in a drug induced stupor and screams, "Is there anybody out there?"

Well, is there? Just nod if you can hear me, Lovie! You too, Angelo! What drugs put you in your stupor? OR, are you just stupid?

Here's the thing. I keep seeing articles and hearing interviews on how good Lovie and Angelo say the offensive line did on Saturday. Hmmm, really? So I guess 2.8 yards per carry has become a new benchmark of what's good and what's not in the run game. I guess 2.8 yards per carry is satisfactory to Lovie because he thinks we don't need to run because Cutler will throw for 5,000 yards and have 30 throwing TD's (I agree with that one by the way). I guess 2.8 yards per carry is an improvement from what Turner brought to the table. I guess 2.8 yards per carry is okay with Lovie because he thinks the Cover Who defense will shut out every team we play (I hate this defensive scheme as much as I hate the Wide Receiver Screen). I guess 2.8 yards per carry would be acceptable if our starting Running Back was averaging six yards a carry and the back up running back brought the average down to 2.8 yards a carry. Wake up! Or at least quit giving us fans the PR spin where, "Every thing's gonna be alright, gang." Cuz it's not, and here's why.

To begin, Forte ran like a truck into the offensive line's blocks his rookie year, and as a result, he broke rushing records and had a great year. Last year, he stunk on ice. I know it's the first game, but he looks like he did last year. The question should be why? My best guess is that he's a smart guy and sees that the offensive line stinks and he is running scared, or a better word would be timid, because he is afraid that if he hits the hole hard, he'll get crushed and get injured. He might. Chester Taylor was hitting the holes hard, like he always does, on Saturday and did well (I thought). But Chester Taylor doesn't have Forte's experience with the Bears and this O-Line. Quit dancing Forte, and hit the holes hard and fast like an explosion, and guess what? You'll excel again. But, like I said, he's timid right now. Hopefully, he'll get over it and go back to being a great running back. HE also had problems pass blocking, and in this scheme, that ain't gonna fly.

Another problem is the offensive line itself. Get some pride boys! 2.8 yards per carry? Really? That's acceptable to you? Only Mike Tice has been heard to say that this was unacceptable and not good enough, and I'm sure Lovie and Angelo will have a talk with him soon enough to tell him not to be negative and only say positive things to WSCR radio interviewers. Lovie, Angelo and Big Frank (Who sucks) all think they did well apparently. I love the fact that Tice wasn't satisfied and wasn't hiding it because they weren't good enough! Honestly, Krutz has really let me down in the last two years. Is he injured or what? If he is, have a seat, bro. If not, get off your *$# and block someone! Big Frank? You suck! Last year, at the end of the year after we were completely out of contention for the playoffs, the coaches finally sat Orlando Pace who totally stunk up the joint. Once Shaffer and the other guys who were playing were out there, I saw improvement. I'm not saying these guys are long term solutions, but they are an improvement over what we have right now. Why didn't Angelo address the offensive line in the off-season? What I saw Saturday was a swinging gate of an offensive line. That's why Hanie got hurt. Thank God Lovie had the foresight to see that nobody was blocking again and took Cutler out after getting crushed only 4 times in what? Nine plays? Protect him you sloths! And Lovie, play your best players. I'm sick of guys earning a starting position because they are paid more than a Shaffer guy. Penny wise buddy. If Cutler gets hurt, how much will that cost? Well, your job maybe...hopefully.

I love Martz. Two pass plays from the starting offense was all I needed to see in order to come to my conclusion that offense will not be our problem this year. As long as the offensive line can give a D+ or better performance, the Bears are going to score some points, and do it with relative ease. Even at 2.8 yards per carry, Martz will find a way to score, it's just what he does. Don't be shocked to see Chester Taylor more than Forte in this offense. Hopefully, what will happen is that the Bears will score a bunch of points through the air and then Forte gets mop-up duty. These mop-up yards should give Forte some confidence and hopefully, he'll come around and be a great back again. The wide receivers are fast, fast, fast. Jimmy Johnson always said, "Speed kills." Guess what? Our wide receivers are the least of our problems this coming year.

That brings me to the most important part of any winning team...it's defense, and ours stinks. Not the players, the scheme. I hate the Cover Two so bad I can't stand it. It exposes our safeties and gets them injured frequently. Look at Mike Brown. Look at Saturday! Stiltz and Wright are both injured. AND, what is this nonsense where Urlacher and Briggs line up over the Center? I don't get it, it's stupid! Now, you make them have to back pedal every play? Dumb! Line them up so they can read the play and react quickly. Does anyone run faster backwards than forwards? Give them the ability to gain momentum on a blitz for crap sake. Genius Lovie, pure genius.

As you can tell, I'm not a fan of Lovie Smith or the Cover Boo defense. Mainly, Lovie wouldn't bother me accept that he is married to the Cover Two and I hate it. Bears management, for the love of God, please, no matter what the outcome is this year...dump him.

Sifting Through Bears Silliness

noreply@blogger.com (Chi City Louie) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:04:00 +0000

: If all goes according to plan, this will be Lovie Smith's last training camp as Bears head coach. All you have to do is be bad Lovie, please don't mess it up.

Much to my surprise and delight this summer, Bears optimism has been contained to a moderate level. Unlike last year's hype fest that surrounded the arrival of Gay Butler(I'll start calling him Jay Cutler when he earns the name back), meatball nation seems much more cautious this August. I'm overly giddy at Bears fans realizing what this team is, and not making SuperBowl or NFC Championship proclamations. This is a positive step for some of the dumbest fans in the NFL, and for that I want to give them a golf clap.......There you go. I knew you weren't all football retarded. The thing that bothers me most is how some of the people that cover this team have such a slanted view. There are two Bears suck asses that continue to make fools of themselves. Zach Zaidman of WBBM 780 and The Score 670 wouldn't say a negative word about the Bears if a gun was pointed at him. He's not alone, however. Dan Pompei of The Chicago Tribune makes me want to get Vinny Chase drunk every single time he writes something about this team. Let me preface this by saying I'm not here to be overly negative. I just wish people who are paid to be objective, actually did their job and would stop waving their Bears flag all day long. At least Marc Silverman has toned down his Gay Butler love this year. Silvy saw the light through the red zone interceptions.

Quick Story: Zaidman and Pompei aren't the only two Chicago sports writers/reporters who draw my ire. David Haugh of the Tribune tweeted a couple weeks ago something along the lines of ripping the Cubs trade of Ted Lilly. Haugh, for reasons only known to him, wanted the Cubs to keep the 34 year old soft tossing-soon to be washed up Lilly and sign him to an extension. When I tweeted him back after the trade saying his idea of keeping Lilly was worse than him calling Andres Nocioni the next Dirk Nowitzki, he proceeded to block me. You can't handle the heat can you, Dave? It's understandable. If I compared a mediocre Nocioni to one of the best players of the past 10 years, I'd get pissed too. Yes, he made that claim in '06 and,yes, I remembered. Haugh and Scoop Jackson are in a tight race for most clueless Chicago sports writer of the year. Keep it going fellas, you are providing constant laughs for us all.

So far this summer, I've had to read Pompei write about Frank Omiyale being "back home" at right tackle. You know it's bad when my mild mannered younger brother looked at me and said "did you read this?" Yes, unfortunately, I did. Pompei's cheer leading has been only topped by Zach Zaidman tweeting his ass off about every positive play the Bears have run at camp. If you are on Twitter, please follow him for a day. The guy gets more excited about Greg Olsen's 7 on 7 touchdown catches than things that actually matter. Ya know, like how the Bears offense has looked great in 7 on 7(every team looks good in 7 on 7.....Yes, even the Raiders). The ginger haired genius somehow leaves out how the offense has looked in 11 on 11 work.......bad for the most part. He even defended Gay Butler throwing a ball at the hospitality tent in frustration. Hey, it was hot outside and it was a long practice. Those things happen. Getting Zaidman to say something bad about the Bears is harder than The Situation scoring anything other than a "grenade." So, as usual, it's up to Mr. Realism to sift through the silliness that too many die hard Bears fans have to read and listen to. Here, then, are my thoughts on the Bears so far as we approach the first exhibition game this weekend.

The Positives

: Devin Aromashodu needs to be starting this season. He is the Bears best all around receiver, and a Gay Butler favorite.

Devin Aromashodu: The Bears best receiver has looked solid as he builds on a strong finish to the '09 season. The bad news? Mike Martz doesn't think much of him, apparently. Bears fans will grow to hate Martz, trust me. The Bears are starting Johnny Knox and Devin Hester as of now, and I don't know why. Aromashodu is the team's best all around receiver. Knox is a one trick pony who will get deep, but will always struggle getting off press coverage at the line. As for Hester, it's not his fault the Bears turned him into an average receiver after he was the greatest kick returner in NFL history. He's just not very bright, and the receiver position in Martz's offense is as important as the quarterback position. That spells doom for Hester, Earl Bennett, and any Bears fan with high blood pressure. Put Aromashodu on the field and let him build his rapport with Gay Butler. #6 likes him, and that should mean something to Martz and Lovie Smith.

Major Wright: The Bears top draft pick is back after missing time with a groin injury. If Dave Wannstedt was still the Bears coach he's say Wright "has a groin." The Bears need to get Wright up to speed quickly, so he can start the season as a starter. I know both safety spots in the Bears defense are tough to learn, but isn't Wright already better than Craig Steltz? I can't imagine that he isn't, so put him out there and let him grow into the really good player he should become.I have my concerns with Chris Harris as he battles injury and age. The Bears need youth and stability at that spot, and Wright should be starting there yesterday.

The Special Teams Unit: Does it get any better than the Bears special teams? Dave Toub has turned Tim Shaw into a meatball phenom. Brad Maynard is healthy and looking great, Robbie Gould is one of the best in the business, Daniel Manning is a beast returning kicks, Johnny Knox is a stud, and Pat Mannelly is a long snapping God. This is easily the Bears best part of their team.

Chris Williams: The young left tackle is the lone player on the o-line that aspires confidence. Going up against Julius Peppers everyday will only help aid the development of C-Will.

Matt Forte: Forte came into the season with a bum hamstring and quickly injured his knee. He suddenly morphed into Lewis "two yard" Tillman for the duration. Forte is back to form this year and should be the Bears featured back despite the signing of Chester Taylor. When healthy, Forte is the better player and should get the bulk of the carries in 2010.

Someone hide Pompei and Zaidman. I'm about to actually reveal some flaws on this Bears team. Zaidman may cry if he ever reads this.

The Negatives

The Offensive Line: Sans Chris Williams, this group is very likely to be abysmal this season. Lance Louis may start at right guard. Louis was a 7th round draft choice of the Bears in '09. That would be fine except the Bears drafted Louis as a tight end and moved him to tackle. It would be a great story, but he is a question mark at best right now. Olin Kreutz was tougher on Fred Miller at the gun shooting range than he was on opposing lineman last year. He has lost a step that he won't get back this late in his career. Roberto Garza is moving to left guard. He is solid, if unspectacular. That brings us to Frank Omiyale or Kevin Schaffer at right tackle. Now I know why #6 likes to drink. If I had that those two protecting me, I'd hit the bottle pretty hard too. No matter who "wins" that battle, it will be a weak spot all season.

The Secondary: Charles Tillman looks to be in great shape, but age and injury are on Bears fans minds. Training camp "superstar" Zack Bowman is nicked up again, and you don't know how Corey Graham will play after spending last year in Lovie's doghouse. The NFC North is loaded with good receivers.... Charles Johnson, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and Sidney Rice. All of whom over match the Bears DB's. The Bears have some potential in the last line of defense, but serious questions remain unanswered.Did I mention that they face Brett Favre(yes, he's coming back), Matthew Stafford, and Aaron Rodgers all twice this year? Ouch. Did I also mention Lovie still plans to use Josh Bullocks this year? My head hurts.

Quick Zaidman Rant: The Bears bandwagon driver also has been blowing Craig Steltz as if he was Rod Woodson. He tweeted this after a recent PRACTICE play......."Leaping grab by Johnny Knox of Jay Cutler fastball in 2 minute drill followed by Craig Steltz pick. Big time defense from the LSU product." I wish Zach would realize Steltz isn't good at football and Wright was drafted for a reason.

54's Health: Brian Urlacher will never regain his '05 form, but can he come back and be a stud player again? I wouldn't doubt him, but the wear and tear of a long career are taking their toll on former franchise player.

: Of course Greg Olsen didn't come down with this ball in traffic. When does he ever make a tough grab with defenders on him? Mike Martz will soon have little use for G-Reg.

Greg Olsen's Massive Skill Set: The tight end position in Martz's offense gets used less than deodorant does by Packers fans. Pay no attention to what Martz says about Olsen. He said the same things about Vernon Davis when he was the offensive coordinator in San Francisco in '08. Davis was coming off 52 catches in '07 despite injuries and Trent Dilfer throwing to him. With Martz at the helm in '08? Davis dipped to 31 catches. Last year with Martz gone Davis became the best tight end in the league with 78 catches, 965 yards, and 13 touchdowns. Martz doesn't use a tight end like Olsen. As much as Zaidman blows Olsen and his skill set, there is a reason the Bears tried trading him this off-season. His value? Nothing more than a 6th round pick.

No Alex Brown: Julius Peppers has been a beast so far in camp. With what he's getting paid, I would hope so. It still burns me that the Bears signed Peppers and cut Alex Brown. All Brown did was start 127 out of 128 possible games in his Bears career. I mean anytime you can get rid of a quality player who doesn't miss games, you have to do it. It's why I say this team is constantly running in circles. Brown and Peppers teamed with a semi healthy Tommie Harris could have given the Bears one of the best front fours in football. Instead we have to wonder if Mark Anderson is anything more than a situational pass rusher. I highly doubt it. I do like Corey Wootton out of Northwestern. He may not get a lot of time as a rookie, but he was a beast his junior year, and has good potential.

I've already written what I think Bears fans should want in 2010. I feel it's imperative that the team 6-10's their way to ensure a house cleaning of the 3 stooges. There are positives, however, and as we start the preseason Bears fans should focus on the young players(Wright, Wootton, and Aromashodu,) and hope that Gay Butler plays well enough to regain his name--just don't hope for too much success because none of us need Lovie, Angelo, and Phillips back in 2011. Just make sure to not tell Pompei and Zaidman that. They don't like living in reality like most of us.

2010 Bears Fan's Best Friend: Even Steven

noreply@blogger.com (Mister Payne) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:24:00 +0000

Is it just me, or has the start of this 2010 campaign for the Bears been just... well... ho-hum? Nothing to see here, move along, keep it moving, stay behind the yellow tape please – Business as usual.

We haven't gotten too high and haven't gotten too low. We've seen early injuries, but nothing too serious. Of course there's bad play, but also some good play – Everything balances out, no reason to get emotional, no reason for real concern, simply: Even Steven.


	Did the Jay Cutler trade ruin our enthusiasm?

Maybe the non-exciting start has something to do with all of the activity that has taken place in and around the Chicago sports landscape.

The Blackhawks are the Stanley Cup Champions, the Bulls were in the playoffs and added a nice piece (Carlos Boozer) in free agency, the White Sox are doing quite well in route to a possible playoff appearance, and the Cubs are... well... the Cubs.

The NBA provided the national sports drama this spring and early summer with a better than expected NBA Finals and a free agency frenzy that has never before been seen . The drama was good enough to possibly dull our senses for the upcoming NFL season.

The Chicago Bulls started the summer as the favorites for LeBron James and his “talents,” but things didn't work out that way. Conversely, the Bears secured the biggest prize in NFL free agency (Julius Peppers), but that still didn't seem to pump up the Bears' fan base like last year's trade for Jay Cutler did.

This team had plenty of optimism in the summer of '09 because we had a shiny new QB and were the talk of the league... now, we have a shiny new DE who doesn't bring the same sorta cachet that Mr. Cutler brought.

That excitement for Cutler seriously waned after we all watched him lead the league with 26 interceptions and the Bears finish with a 7-9 record.

So what's really causing this lack of excitement for the 2010 Bears? Is it a post Tiger/Stanley Cup/LeBron lag? Do we really just feel stupid for our 2009 Cutler hype and don't want to put ourselves in that vulnerable position again? Is it because we haven't had a 1st (or 2nd) round pick to gush over in two off-seasons? Are we afraid that this season is gonna be a nightmare? Are we afraid that it will be a surprising success? Maybe our enthusiasm reflects the results we've gotten over the past few seasons (7-9, 9-7, 7-9) which is nothing to get excited about.

I would image the answer includes a little bit of everything.

Most of the main stars of this team are on the other side of their prime. A good portion of the draft picks (made by GM Jerry Angelo) since the 2006 Super Bowl campaign have been released or gross underachievers. The skill position guys are young and have potential, but are mostly unproven and untested. The greatest chance of excitement is probably a Devin Hester kick return, but those electrifying runs have been nonexistent since his move to receiver.

On a brighter note, Brian Urlacher is returning after missing all but one game last season. Also, Chris Harris returns to the team via an off-season trade with the Carolina Panthers. Tommie Harris has managed to stay healthy and practicing full-time, and young guys like Zack Bowman and Matt Forte are looking great in camp so far.

Surprisingly good play from a few young players could net a Wildcard berth or better. Surprisingly bad play from a couple top vets could mean doom and gloom Could be a 6-10 season or looking forward to a playoff push guided by a 10+ win team. Either way wouldn't surprise me or anyone else who follows this team.

Celebrated fanfare normally only ends one of two ways: Big disappointment or expectations met. The middle let's the highs stay high and doesn't let the lows get too low. This Even Steven thing could be good for Bears!

Who am I kidding? The middle sucks! I'd give anything to be the Jets or Cowboys right now! I'd settle for being the Vikings right now. Their biggest headache is massaging a diva's ego; the Bears' headaches start with not knowing what their offensive line looks like.. ugh! At least knowing that you are going to be horrible (like the Rams) would allow good conversation about the future, especially if your number one pick was a QB with loads of potential. The middle of the road doesn't really allow us to do even that.


	Anderson


	Omiyale

Even Steven just got me again! That last paragraph tells it all. It seems like I was really emotional and had some sort of revelation but seconds after typing the last word I was right back to Even Steven mode reading tweets about how great the wide receiver and secondary battles have been in Bears camp.

I (like many others I suspect) am trapped. I can't get high enough for it to matter, and can't get discouraged enough with all of the positives I am hearing and seeing. Until we see how this thing plays out, we won't get too high or too low... a very boring fan existence. Ho-hum, middle of the road, keep it moving, nothing to see here.

“Oh look, Frank Omiyale just allowed another sack in practice, wait... Mark Anderson is the one who got the sack!”

See what I mean? Even Steven.

Can Major Wright Help The Bears' Secondary?

noreply@blogger.com (Cloud Realty) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:44:00 +0000

Major Wright, the Bears' third round draft pick out of Florida, recently signed a four-year contract. Wright was a logical choice for the Bears, who were in need of help in the secondary. He fits well in their scheme as a safety that can play deep, while also improving in coverage. Ideally, he would play free safety, though he may have to win that job from Danieal Manning.

In the fifth round of the draft the Bears selected corner Josh Moore. Don't expect much playing time for him. Nathan Vasher was released this off-season. That leaves the projected starters in the secondary as:

Rod Miranelli, formerly the defensive line coach, was hired as defensive coordinator. The front seven seems primed for a return to form, and Miranelli will have some flexibility there. The secondary will lean on that group. It appears their greatest challenge will be finding consistency in the back end. They do still have corner Charles Tillman, and he undoubtedly has some good years left in him.

Lovie Smith's two greatest tests as a coach have been a) finding anything resembling a reliable quarterback, and b) finding safety combinations. Their struggles at quarterback have been well publicized, leaving the safety problems in the background. According to USA Today, "The Bears have made a total of 40 lineup changes at the two safety positions" during Smith's tenure as head coach.

Danieal Manning is still pencilled in as the starting free safety, but nothing is guaranteed in the Bears' secondary. Wright fits well in a defense built around the Cover 2, where his average man coverage skills can be masked in the deep zone. Plus, he gets to sit back and flatten receivers. He certainly brings a physical presence. For those of you with violent tendencies, you'll enjoy this. But don't expect significant contributions from Wright in his first year. Just plead for the rest of the secondary to play well.

Da Bears and Bulls Blog

Chicago Bears Rumors + News + Blog + Draft 2012: Bears Mix

Matt Forte's Contract Extention is Long Overdue.

Bears Off Balance

Regular Season On Horizon.

Bears Part with Kreutz.

Olsen Out, Williams In.

The Bears Minus Kreutz Equals Disaster.

Players to Watch- Nick Reed

What's Next for the Chicago Bears

"Maybe Next Year"

We Need to be Smarter Fans

Bears-Packers Preview

Cutler Gets A Bad Wrap

Winning Matters Most, Not Who You Beat

Roll out the barrel...?

Stick With The Facts Mamn, Just The Facts.

Bears Thoughts

Not Pretty But Bears Are 3-0

2011 NFL Mock Draft

Bears Beat Cowboys 27-20; Improve To 2-0

Same Old Sorry Ass Bears

Recent Posts

Same Old Sorry Ass Bears

Bears' Starters Look Good...So Far.

Is Anybody Out There?

Sifting Through Bears Silliness

2010 Bears Fan's Best Friend: Even Steven

Can Major Wright Help The Bears' Secondary?